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The Bracknell Bees made the road trip to Sheffield to take on the Steeldogs.

The Bees were missing Lukas Smital from their lineup but again added Danny Ingoldsby and Ilya Antonov.

The Steeldogs were without Andre Payette, Ben Wood, Lubomir Korhon and Ashley Calvert.

Referee Paul Staniforth was given the nod along with linesmen Alice Stanley and Chris Wells.

Alex Mettam and Dalibor Sedlar got the nod in the respective nets.

Things began badly for the traveling Bees when Sheffield won the opening face-off and the Bees inability to clear the defensive zone meant that in just 13 seconds they turned it into their first goal of the night, scored by their recently re-signed import forward Janis Ozolins.

Their luck soon changed however when the Bees found themselves on a five on three power play with three minutes on the clock.

Janis Ozolins picked up a two minute penalty for roughing, followed closely behind by Craig Elliot getting two minutes for tripping.

Tempers fray a little during Bracknell's game against the Sheffield Steeldogs (Image: Robert Swann)

This gave the Bees a chance in the zone but they failed to find the net after a few back and forth passes at the point.

They then suffered a blow with a penalty on Ryan Watt who was assessed a two minute sit down for boarding with just over five minutes gone in the period.

Despite Sheffield’s best efforts the Bees managed to hold them off well.

With just over eight minutes on the clock the Bees suffered another penalty with Scott Spearing picking up an interference minor in front of the Bees net.

The Steeldogs found the net for a second time at 9:30 scored by Tom Squires assisted by Jeff Legue.

The end of the first period became a bit scrappy with a lot of mid ice turnovers.

The second period began well with good chances for both teams.

Dominated by Sheffield in the middle stages the Bees managed to hold them off but got unlucky when a quick goal from Squires with just under 33 minutes on the clock stretched the Steeldogs lead to three goals.

Not long after this Scott Spearing was called for holding the stick and given two minutes, putting the ‘Dogs back on the power play.

Even worse was to follow for the Bees as they were hit with an injury to Radek Hubacek which saw him sit out for the rest of the game.

The remainder of the second saw very little opportunities from both teams and was comparatively lacklustre.

With the Bees now missing two of their key forwards (as Lukas Smital had not started the game and Radek Hubacek had gone off injured in the second period) Sheffield once again had the upper hand which resulted in them netting another goal through Jeff Legue at the forty three minute mark.

A wrap around goal which cruelly trickled over the top of Alex Mettam’s pads in the Bees net.

The Bees kept on fighting though but Scott Spearing once again fell foul of the referee and was given two minutes shortly after the goal, this time for tripping and the Bees were again short handed.

Thankfully for the Bees this got the ‘Dogs nowhere and the Bees quickly got back to full strength. It was then the Bees opportunity on the powerplay as Jeff Legue took a seat at for hooking with a little over fifty four minutes on the clock.

The Bees cycled the puck well in the zone before Jan Bendik fired a shot from the point which was tipped past Dalibor Sedlar in the Sheffield net by Danny Ingoldsby, the further assist going to Foord.

With five minutes left in the match the goal put some spark into the Bees but unfortunately it was too little too late as the defensive errors had cost the Bees earlier on in the match.

The Bees did get a final power play opportunity with four minutes left as Andrew Hirst took a seat for kneeing.

Putting the Bees back on another power play of five on three but despite their efforts they were unsuccessful in finding the back of the net again with Sedlar having a solid game for the Steeldogs.

With time running out a final penalty for the Bees was given as Vanya Antonov took a seat with three minutes left in the match for interference.

The Steeldogs proved yet again that they can play good technical hockey without playing the fighting game and the Bees battled hard despite being without both import forwards for most of the game.

Man of the match awards went to Janis Ozolins for the home side Steeldogs and to Matt Towlaski for the traveling Bees.